Journals of the
Lewis & Clark Expedition

[Clark]

The Musquitors became troublesom early this morning    I rose at the usial hour found all the party as wet as rain could make them.    as we were in want of Some tobacco I purposed to Mr. Airs to furnish us with 4 Carrots for which we would Pay the amount to any Merchant of St. Louis he very readily agreed to furnish us with tobacco and gave to each man as much as it is necessary for them to use between this and St. Louis, an instance of Generossity for which every man of the party appears to acknowledge. Mr. Airs also insisted on our accepting a barrel of flour—we gave to this gentleman what Corn we Could Spear amounting to about 6 bushels, this Corn was well Calculated for his purpose as he was about to make his establishment and would have it in his power to hull the Corn & The flower was very acceptable to us.    we have yet a little flour part of what we carried up from the Illinois as high as Maria's river and buried it there untill our return &c.    at 8 A. M    we took our leave and Set out, and proceeded on very well, at 11 A. M. passed the Enterance of the big Sieoux River ^[1] which is low, and at meridian we came too at Floyds Bluff below the Enterance of Floyds river ^[2] and assended the hill, with Capt Lewis and Several men, found the grave had been opened by the nativs and left half Covered. ^[3]    we had this grave Completely filled up, and returned to the Canoes and proceeded on to the Sand bar on which we encamped from the 12th to the 20th of August 1804 ^[4] near the Mahar Village, ^[5] here we came to and derected every wet article put out to dry, all the bedding of the party and Skins being wet.    as it was late in the evening we deturmined to continue all night.    had issued to each man of the party a cup of flour.    we See no Species of Game on the river as usial except wild geese and pelicans. I observed near Sergt Floyds Grave a number of flurishing black walnut trees, ^[6] these are the first which I have seen decending the river.    a little before night Several Guns were heard below and in a direction towards the Mahar village which induced us to suspect that Mr. McClellin who we was informed was on his way up to trade with the Mahars had arived at the Creek below and that those reports of Guns was Some of his party out hunting.    every thing being dry we derected the Perogue & Canoes to be loaded and in readiness to Set out in the morning early. at dark the Musquetors became troublesom and continued So all night the party obtained but little Sleep—    we made 36 miles only to daye.